{"id":690,"date":"2020-06-30T16:20:43","date_gmt":"2020-06-30T16:20:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/makerspace\/?page_id=690"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:05:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T14:05:07","slug":"outputting-for-the-laser-cutter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/makerspace\/outputting-for-the-laser-cutter\/","title":{"rendered":"Outputting for the Laser Cutter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

JUMP TO: Adobe Illustrator<\/a> | Inkscape<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adobe Illustrator:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To begin: first you have to design something in a vector based program. While SVGs do work for etching, you will need vector shapes in order to cut. So in the end, it’s good practice to get yourself acquainted with a vector editing program. We have some listed in our Software<\/a><\/i><\/b> <\/a>resource page that are free, but in the Makerspace we have the Adobe suite and tend to be Illustrator focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are looking for the Inkscape Version, please go HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to just download our template and start off that, you can download them here: Laser Cutter Template (AI)<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is what the template should look like when you open it:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Now assuming you’ve place your work into that file: congratulations, you now have a vector image to laser cut and\/or etch. Hooray! Now we need to make sure the file is prepped and ready to go for the lab manager! Skip down to the Preparing Your File<\/strong> section. Continue if you want to make your own file from scratch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating Your Own File:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First thing’s first: Make a New File.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Make sure your artboard dimensions are 12 by 24 inches<\/strong>. If they are not, change them with the Artboard Tool. (Tools are covered in depth in the Stencil tutorial linked above.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next make sure your Color Mode<\/em> is RGB<\/strong>. You can check that by going to File > Document Color Mode > RGB Color<\/strong>. Because it is a digital print and not ink-based print, it does not need to rely on CMYK!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Now to make guides, Use Ctrl\/Cmd + R<\/strong> (or View > Show Rulers<\/strong>) to open up the rules and set guides. (I usually make a 1\/8 (0.125) inch bleed<\/strong> off the corner to make a safety space so the cutter may not cut off the bed (it does happen if the X\/Y position is off. We do try our best to get it perfect, but laser cutter operators are human after all…)<\/p>\n\n\n

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You can use the Transform<\/strong> panel to place your guides exactly in those places. Window > Transform<\/strong> will open the panel up.<\/p>\n\n\n

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On the X Axis you want one at 0.125 inches <\/strong>and 23.875 inches<\/strong>. On the Y Axis you want one at 0.125 inches <\/strong>and 11.875 inches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The active space for the design should be 11.75 by 23.75 inches.<\/strong> Do not design past those guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feel free to resize the piece to fit your material you’re cutting from. You may want to add additional guides for say, your material size. For example, if your material is 12 by 12 inches, you make two more guides on the X Axis at 12 inches and 11.875 inches to give you the proper safety area. If it\u2019s 4 by 6 inches, add two more on the X Axis at 6 inches and 5.875 inches, and add two at 4 inches and 3.875 inches on the Y Axis and so forth.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Preparing Your File:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Etching Settings: <\/strong>Vector MUST be in in greyscale. If only doing one solid color, Black (#000000)<\/strong> etches the deepest. The closer to white (#FFFFFF)<\/strong>, the shallower the etch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cutting Settings: <\/strong>MUST be a red (#FF0000) <\/strong>stroke set at 0.01 points. Anything else and print will not run. Sometimes a black (#000000)<\/strong> stroke works as well, but not always. <\/p>\n\n\n

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If you are doing both, separate you etch and cuts into separate groups or layers– whatever your preference is. This helps the Lab Manager run jobs more quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n

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If you need to flip shapes into strokes and vice versa, the swap tool does just that.<\/p>\n\n\n

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If you’d like, remove all your extraneous parts\/sketches you traced on, etc and put them in a new layer and hide & lock them. It’s also good practice to put your guides in their own layer too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, go to File > Save As<\/strong> and name your file. Save it as an AI<\/em> file. (If you’re not using Illustrator at home, you may want to save a copy as an SVG or EPS.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Then move the file to a flash drive (to bring in physically) AND email it to the Makerspace Manager when you contact them to make your laser cutting appointment. That way should for some reason the file have any issues on arrival via email, you have a copy they can use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inkscape:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To begin: first you have to design something in a vector based program. While SVGs do work for etching, you will need vector shapes in order to cut. So in the end, it\u2019s good practice to get yourself acquainted with a vector editing program. As stated in the title, we recommend Inkscape<\/a><\/strong>, as it is free and Open Source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(If you\u2019re looking for the Adobe Illustrator Version, go HERE<\/a><\/strong>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to just download our template and start off that, you can download them here: Laser Cutter Template (SVG)<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is what the template should look like opened:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now assuming you\u2019ve used the template and added your images: congratulations, you now have a vector image to laser cut and\/or etch. Hooray! Now we need to make sure the file is prepped and ready to go for the lab manager. Skip to the Prepping Your File<\/strong> section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setup Inkscape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If this is your first time using Inkscape there\u2019s some things to set up to make things a little easier, or rather, as similar to Adobe Illustrator as possible. Head over to Quick Setup.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Next you\u2019ll see a dropdown menu, select Adobe Illustrator<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Next, hit Save<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Creating Your Own Template:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Select Time to Draw<\/strong> on the splash screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Select New Document<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This should be how the screen looks when you open it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Next we want to make the artboard and measurements how we want. Go to File > Document Properties<\/strong> to access the menu we need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Inkscape defaults to metric, so everything is current set at millimeters. Set your Format<\/strong> and Display Units<\/strong> to inches. Set your artboard width to 24 inches<\/strong> and your artboard height to 12 inches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Your Artboard should now look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Next we\u2019re establishing a safety zone. Our bleed thankfully can stay small at about 0.125<\/strong> inches, so we will need to subtract 0.25 inches from the artboard\u2019s height and width making an 23.75 by 11.75 inch rectangle to fit our designs in. To do that, simply drag from the ruler to pull out a guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Double click on the little dot to adjust its location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the X Axis you want one at 0.125 inches <\/strong>and 23.875 inches<\/strong>. On the Y Axis you want one at 0.125 inches <\/strong>and 11.875 inches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The active space for the design should be 11.75 by 23.75 inches.<\/strong> Do not design past those guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may want to add additional guides for say, your material size. For example, if your material is 12 by 12 inches, you make two more guides on the X Axis at 12 inches and 11.875 inches to give you the proper safety area. If it\u2019s 4 by 6 inches, add two more on the X Axis at 6 inches and 5.875 inches, and add two at 4 inches and 3.875 inches on the Y Axis and so forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepping Your File:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make sure your Color Mode<\/em> is RGB<\/strong>. You can check that by going to File > Document Properties<\/strong> and going to the Color<\/strong> tab. Because it is a digital print and not ink-based print, it does not need to rely on CMYK! Adobe RGB is just fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Etching Settings: <\/strong>Vector MUST be in greyscale. If only doing one solid color, Black (#000000)<\/strong> etches the deepest. The closer to white (#FFFFFF)<\/strong>, the shallower the etch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cutting Settings: <\/strong>MUST be a red (#FF0000)<\/strong> stroke set at 0.1 points. Anything else and print will not run. Sometimes a black (#000000) stroke works as well, but not always. (Inkscape for some reason will not make the stroke visible at 0.01 pts\u2013 the correct size but I can fix that before I run it.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you are doing both etching and cutting, separate you etch and cuts into separate groups or layers\u2013 whatever your preference is. This helps the Lab Manager run jobs more quickly. (Especially when it\u2019s something like keychains.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d like, remove all your extraneous parts\/sketches you traced on, etc and put them in a new layer and hide & lock them. Those are the little eye and padlock icons in the Layers panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next, go to File > Save As<\/strong> and name your file. Save it as an AI<\/em> file. (If you\u2019re not using Illustrator then please save it as an EPS<\/em> file.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then move the file to a flash drive (to bring in physically) AND email it to the Makerspace Manager when you contact them to make your laser cutting appointment. That way should for some reason the file have any issues on arrival via email, you have a copy they can use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Further Exploration:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n